A Game Of Pool Changed Her Life

I just heard this story this week! When Dina Lowenstien was in seventh grade she was having trouble in school. She started hanging out with the wrong crowds, and getting involved in all sorts of trouble . She was was very unhappy with her school. Things became worse and one day she asked her parents if she could switch to public school, where her new friends were. Her parents saw that Dina needed help and decided to send her to a school out of town. After talking it over with Dina, she agreed to try it out for a year. As soon as Dina got to the school she liked it right away. She felt it was more "open minded", and accepting. Since Dina was from out of town she was boarding by a family. As the weeks went by things started to look better for Dina. She started making new friends and showing up to more classes. Everything was going well besides for the family she was boarding by. They didn't like that she was coming home late and that she didn't always set for herself boundaries. She again started hanging out with the wrong people and hanging out in the wrong places. Dina saw that living away from home was not the answer and told her parents she was coming home and going to public school. Her parents weren't happy with this decision. In the end, Dina ended up in public school. As the years went by Dina's Yiddishkeit was wavering, and she felt didn't" fit in." When she was in eleventh grade Dina and her friends saw hanging in the hall an invitation to a Saturday night party at some Rabbi's house. Always looking for a reason to party Dina and her Jewish friends decided to go. It was called Lounge and Learn. It was a "party" for a bunch of boys and girls like her in a Rabbi's house. The Rabbi's wife made delicious food and the Rabbi, Rabbi Summers schmoozed with them. They all had a really good time and really liked Rabbi Summers. This was the first of many times that Dina and her friends went to Rabbi Summer's home. As the year went by Dina and her friends had many get -togethers and programs with Rabbi Summers. Dina was happy with this connection to her Jewish identity. Rabbis Summers would talk with them, invite them for Shabbos, plan "kosher" parties, and just be there for them. When Dina was in twelfth grade she was on a Shabbaton with a bunch of her friends and teenagers from all around. Dina had a great time with her friends and spending Shabbos with Rabbi Summers, his family and a bunch of other Rabbi's and their families. The Shabbaton was packed with speeches, entertainment, Ask the Rabbi sessions, stories, and good food. Motzoei Shabbos, after the Meleva Malka a bunch of kids were hanging out in the rec room. Rabbi Summers was in the room talking with some of them. While Rabbi Summers was talking he spotted Dina on the other side of the room with her friends. Dina had become close with Rabbi Summers family. Rabbi Summers made his way over to her to check up on her and her friends. While he was talking to her Rabbi Summers asked Dina what she was planning on doing next year. She answered that she was applying to college's in a few different cities. Her dream was to be a lawyer. "Did you ever think about applying to Seminaries in Israel?" Rabbi Summers asked?
"No, I haven't and I'm not interested in going to seminary or Israel. I want to start college." Dina answered.
"Why don't you just apply? It doesn't hurt. I know some seminaries that you might like." Rabbi Summers said
"NO! I'm not even applying!" she shouted
Suddenly Rabbi Summers had an idea, he told Dina, "How about this, lets play a game of pool if I win, you apply. If you win, then you don't apply."
Dina agreed.
They played an intense game of pool with everyone cheering them on. The game was getting very close, everyone around held their breath. It was Rabbi Summer's turn. He hit the ball and won the game. Everyone cheered. Upon agreement Dina applied to the seminary that Rabbi Summers chose for her. A month later, Dina got in the mail an acceptance letter to the seminary she applied to. After talking it over with her family and Rabbi Summers she saw that this was all from Hashem. Dina went to to the seminary and had an unbelievable year. She learned and grew a tremendous amount and became close with a lot of her teachers in seminary. She found her own path in Yiddishkiet and a love for Eretz Yisroel. She loved it so much that she stayed there this year for a second year. She thanks a game of pool for who she is today! (I heard this story from Dina's mother)